Test skiing, explosives and avalauncher being used to detect the occurrence of an avalanche in Alta, Utah.

Location:
Alta Utah USA Date:1950Duration:6 min 39 secSound:Yes

A training film about the means of forecasting avalanches in Alta, Utah. A snow ranger skies down a slope during testing. Incorrect and correct or safer ways of test skiing demonstrated. Explosives being used to set an avalanche in motion. Cables attached and a charge package of TNT (Trinitrotoluene) prepared. Fuse lit up with an igniter. A man throws the charge and explosion results in a crater indicating the least possibility of occurrence of an avalanche. Another man throws a charge and results in slab avalanche as snow breaks up in blocks. An electric cap being used to control time of detonation of explosive. A man throws the charge and a slab avalanche occurs as a result of a slide set on motion by the explosion. A man works on a projectile called avalauncher. Men work on the projectile and fire it at a slope.